October - Reading 17

Good afternoon -

Our Scriptures for today's reading are:

John 5:31-47

1 Peter 2:9-17

Song of Solomon 2

Jeremiah 47-48

May God bless the reading of His Word.

 

Good evening -

There is much more history to glean from our reading of Jeremiah today than there is theology. The main lesson of chapters 46 - 51 is that God is in control. Both of the prophecies in today's reading were brought about by Babylon under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar. The Philistines were attacked at Ashkelon in 604 BC and Moab fell in 582 BC.

In the Book of John today Christ speaks of the testimony spoken about Him by John the baptist, the Scriptures (Moses) and by God Himself through the Son's works. To me the climax of this passage is when Christ scolds the Pharisees for studying the Scriptures so diligently but not recognizing the fulfillment of them. The actual fulfillment of the Law and Prophets threatened the power seat the Pharisees had established for themselves.

In 1Peter 2 we see the designation of the Christian body as the Priesthood of Believers. This passage reflects the recognition of the Jewish people being God's preiest in Exodus 19:6 when the Sinaitic Covenant was established. Under the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34, which Christ established, the Royal Priesthood was reassigned. It should also be noted that the term "priest" means that we have no need of any intercessors or mediators between us and God.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Mark, I was hoping to put a little more research into your question before posting but I do not want to let it slip by without giving some response.

First of all it is interesting that you read the tone of the text as "angry." John gave us no indication of emotion at this time. As I read it, I think the emotion I most saw was despair or perhaps sadness. This is not to say that your interpretation is incorrect by any means! It's just interesting how different believers see things differently.

The only instance that comes to mind of Christ displaying discernable anger is the cleansing of the Temple, John 2:13-22. Many of the incidences of His encounters and rebukes of the Pharisees, Saducees and keepers of the Law could also be read as angry, but again that requires bias on the part of the reader.

 

Song of Songs

Sunday School 8/27/06

Song of Songs 2:8-11, 14, 16 The Shepherd Summons the Maiden

With the passing of bad weather, the lovers are given more opportunity to sneak away. The rainy Palestinian winter and a hint at her family restricting her to home in verse 14, had made it made more difficult for them to meet. Now, the shepherd is described like a gazelle or a stag coming for her. Anyone who has ever kept a garden knows how relentless and determined a deer can be at getting to the garden despite the gardeners best efforts. The same idea is conveyed here.

Verse 2:16 describes the maiden’s longing and deepest emotions. Despite the fact that her family does not approve, she belongs to the shepherd and he belongs to her. The bond between them is too strong for the feelings and effort of her family to overcome.

 

Our Scriptures for 10/18 are:

John 6:1-15

1 Peter 2:18-25

Song of Solomon 3

Jeremiah 49

 

Our Scriptures for 10/18 are:

John 6:1-15

1 Peter 2:18-25

Song of Solomon 3

Jeremiah 49

 

Our Scriptures for 10/18 are:

John 6:1-15

1 Peter 2:18-25

Song of Solomon 3

Jeremiah 49

 

Our Scriptures for 10/18 are:

John 6:1-15

1 Peter 2:18-25

Song of Solomon 3

Jeremiah 49

 

Our Scriptures for 10/18 are:

John 6:1-15

1 Peter 2:18-25

Song of Solomon 3

Jeremiah 49